Kwanzaa is a seven day African-American celebration of culture and tradition. It is a cultural, not religious, celebration that begins December 26th of each year. In 1966, Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga created the African-American celebration of Kwanzaa. Dr. Karenga, a political and cultural scientist, is also the founder of the Black Nationalist Organization.
Dr. Karenga was concerned that all African-Americans were facing a cultural crisis. He felt that any significant movements must have a strong cultural base to give them direction and identity. Dr. Karenga felt that there was no clear system of values and views that would give African-Americans both a moral and meaningful interpretation of their lives and culture. Kwanzaa was created to fill this void and create the basis for a strong, unified African-American movement.
Kwanzaa is based upon traditional African harvest celebrations. While KWANZAA means first fruits in Swahili, Dr. Karenga added an extra A to the end of the word to indicate the newly created African-American Kwanzaa. It is important to note that Kwanzaa is not an African celebration, but an African-American celebration. It incorporates elements of both African and African-American life.
The Nguzo Saba, or Seven Principles of Kwanzaa, are the new social principles Dr. Karenga created to help African-Americans rebuild their history and culture. Each of the Seven Principles requires the participants to examine their own actions and place in the community of African-Americans.
games to play...
songs to sing...
Stuff The Turkey
Brown paper bag
two small brown lunch paper bags
newspaper
tissue paper
tape
stapler
glue
Fold down about 4" of the large brown bag - keep the fold inside. Fold and staple in each of the four edges of the bag so that the opening is smaller. Smooth out the opening to make it rounded. Stuff the two small paper bags with newspaper. Twist the top of the bags and tape to form the drumsticks. Cut strips of the red tissue paper and glue around the twisted top of the drumsticks for decoration. Glue the drumsticks on the sides of the "turkey". For the stuffing, wad up pieces of the newspaper and tape together to form balls.
TO PLAY: Players stand back about four feet and take turns tossing the "stuffing" into the "turkey". See who can get the most in.
This is sung to the tune of the Hokey Pokey but the children will pretend that they are turkeys as you all sing things like:
You put your right wing in, put your right wing out, You put your right wing in and you shake it all about. You do the Turkey Pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.
You put your left wing in, put your left wing out, You put your left wing in and you shake it all about. You do the Turkey Pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.
You put your red beak in, put your red beak out, You put your red beak in and you shake it all about. You do the Turkey Pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.
clean paper towel tube
glue
construction paper
scissors
acorns
Cut a ring off of the paper towel tube about 2 1/2 inches. You can paint this, or leave it brown. Cut out different colored leaves from the construction paper. Glue the leaves to the top of the ring. Then add a couple of acorns for a finishing touch.
Here's a snack your kids will love! Take a pint of vanilla yogurt and put it in a bowl mix it with granola cereal, stir and serve it. It's a great snack idea.
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